Method for Operating a Device, in Particular an Amusement Ride, Transport Means, a Fitness Apparatus or the Like

ABSTRACT

A method for operating an amusement ride includes at least one vehicle which moves along a route and accommodates at least one passenger. By means of an amusement-ride-specific computer program, a virtual reality corresponding to a journey of the vehicle is generated and is represented on a head-mounted display associated with the passenger of a vehicle in accordance with the position of the vehicle on the route, and in accordance with the position and/or the orientation of the head-mounted display. The amusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on a mobile terminal of the passenger which comprises a communication interface. Alternatively, the amusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on an apparatus which is firmly connected to the vehicle and is designed to connect with the head-mounted display of the passenger. Further, an amusement ride, in particular to a roller coaster, carries out the method above.

The invention relates to a method for operating device, in particular anamusement ride, in particular a roller coaster, with at least onevehicle which moves along a route and accommodates at least onepassenger according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, theinvention relates to an amusement ride, in particular a roller coaster,for carrying out the method according to the invention. The inventionalso relates to operating transport means such as cars, trains or planesor else fitness apparatuses.

A method according to the preamble is also known from EP 2 138 213 131,in which a virtual reality of a journey with a roller coaster isrepresented on glasses or a head-mounted display to be worn by apassenger. The image of the visual reality in the current field ofvision of the passenger is replaced by means of the head-mounted displayby the stereoscopic representation of a virtual reality. Here, therepresentation of the virtual reality is adapted in real timesynchronously with the head movement, in accordance with the positionand/or orientation of the head-mounted display. The visual reality canalso be recorded by a camera and enhanced in the representation of thehead-mounted display by the importing of augmented reality effects.Furthermore, in this known method, the amusement ride comprises aposition sensor for determining the position of the vehicle along theroute, so that the virtual reality can be generated and represented withthe head-mounted display in accordance with the position of the vehiclealong the route.

JP 2001 062 154 A describes a helmet with glasses and headphones in theform of a head-mounted display for the representation of image and audioinformation, which is to be worn by a passenger of a roller coasterduring the journey. In these glasses, a virtual reality is overlain andthe associated audio information is generated via the headphones. Forthis purpose, different image and audio information can be selected bythe passenger.

In these known amusement rides, in which the passenger wears ahead-mounted display during the journey and on which a virtual reality,which is synchronized with the journey, of the journey or of the rollercoaster journey is displayed for the passenger, the head-mounted displayalways has to be connected to a data processing system integrated in theamusement ride. Here, when such head-mounted displays are used, a dataprocessing system is required for each seat due to the individualviewing directions of the passengers of an amusement ride.

On the one hand, such data processing systems can be firmly mounted in avehicle of the amusement ride, as a result of which they are, however,permanently exposed to considerable vibration. On the other hand, a dataprocessing system could also be accommodated centrally in a computationcenter apart from the amusement ride, resulting in an expensivetransmission of the position and direction data of the head-mounteddisplay to the computation center as well as a retransmission of thestereoscopic representation generated on the basis of thesepassenger-specific data to the head-mounted displays. This would lead toa high technical expenditure and, in particular, it could generate aproblematic latency in the immersive experience of the passenger, whichcould induce vertigo and nausea in the passenger.

Moreover, in these known amusement rides, in addition to theabove-mentioned data processing systems, a firmly installed head-mounteddisplay is always required for each seat.

In addition, these head-mounted displays are to be worn day in day outby thousands of passengers, which represents a considerable challenge inview of the hygienic operation of the head-mounted display as well asthe maintenance and repair thereof.

The invention is based on the object of developing the above-mentionedmethod in such a manner that the amusement ride can be operatedinexpensively.

This object is attained by a method having the features of claim 1 andthe features of claim 4.

This method for operating an amusement ride, in particular a rollercoaster, with at least one vehicle which moves along a route andaccommodates at least one passenger, wherein, by means of anamusement-ride-specific computer program, a virtual realitycorresponding to a journey with the vehicle is generated and representedon a head-mounted display associated with the passenger of a vehicle, inaccordance with the position of the vehicle on the route as well as inaccordance with the position and/or the orientation of the head-mounteddisplay, is characterized according to the first-mentioned means ofattaining the object of the invention according to the invention in thatthe amusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on a mobileterminal of the passenger which comprises a communication interface.

In this first-mentioned method according to the invention, the personalmobile terminal of the passenger is used in order to carry out theamusement-ride-specific computer program which generates the virtualreality. Therefore, it is no longer necessary that the amusement rideprovides hardware for each passenger, by means of which the passenger'sown, that is to say passenger-specific, virtual reality is generated foreach passenger in accordance with the position and orientation of thehead-mounted display of said passenger. Thus, the investment for suchhardware is eliminated for the operator of the amusement ride, and thisresults, in particular, in a reduction of the maintenance and repairexpenditure.

As mobile terminals of the passenger, mobile radio units, mobiletelephones, in particular, smartphones, tablet computers or laptops canbe used, by means of which the amusement-ride-specific computer programcan be carried out. Such mobile terminals of the passenger can be keptin the pockets of the passengers' clothes during the journey, inparticular the roller coaster journey, and are thus protected fromcontinuous vibration in contrast to hardware that is firmly mounted inthe vehicles of the amusement ride. However, the mobile terminals canalso sit in the housing of a head-mounted display where they can also beused as integrated representation device, depending on the model. Themobile terminal can also be firmly integrated in the head-mounteddisplay.

An additional advantage results from the fact that the passengers canuse their own head-mounted display or virtual reality headset along withtheir mobile terminal.

Thus, it would also no longer be necessary that such a head-mounteddisplay would have to be provided on each passenger seat. Since suchhead-mounted displays or virtual reality headsets can be obtained ascommercial accessories for mobile telephones such as smartphones ortablet computers and laptops, an amusement ride, in particular a rollercoaster, could also be operated without the provision of suchhead-mounted displays.

As a result of the use of personal mobile terminals and possiblypersonal head-mounted displays of the passengers, it is moreover notnecessary to equip the amusement ride with new equipment in the case inwhich technical progress is made with regard to the achievable qualityof the virtual environment as well as the representation in thehead-mounted displays.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, according tothe first-mentioned means of attaining the object of the invention, theposition of the vehicle on the route is acquired by a positionacquisition device with a vehicle communication interface of the vehicleand transmitted to the mobile terminal via the communication interfacethereof. This transmission of the position data can occur by wirelesslink or by means of a cable plug connection, wherein this communicationinterface of the mobile terminal is designed accordingly. For datatransmission by wireless link, the communication interface can bedesigned to be Bluetooth-enabled or WLAN-enabled.

The position acquisition device of the amusement ride comprises sensorsfor optical, inductive or mechanical detection of the current positionof the vehicle on the route. Based on these sensor data as well as theinformation on the constitution of the route of the amusement rideprovided by the amusement-ride-specific computer program, the positionof a vehicle of the amusement ride is determined.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, it isparticularly advantageous according to the first-mentioned means ofattaining the object of the invention, if, in order to generate avirtual reality corresponding to the journey with the vehicle by meansof the amusement-ride-specific computer program, said computer programis transmitted via a data processing device of the amusement ride to thecommunication interface of the mobile terminal of the passenger. It isalso possible that the computer program is provided by the operator ofthe amusement ride via an App store server on the Internet fortransmission.

Thus, this amusement-ride-specific computer program also contains theinformation that specifically concerns this amusement ride, especiallyroute data, in order to represent the virtual reality of the journey ofthe amusement ride synchronized with regard to the direction of traveland the inclination of the vehicle on the head-mounted display. Inparticular, the lived experience in the virtual reality can beorchestrated with adaptation to the forces and to the vehicle movementsfelt by the passenger. As a result, the journey can always beexperienced in a new manner due to multiple virtual environments. Thesedifferent versions of the virtual reality of the journey of theamusement ride, for example, a roller coaster, can be implemented withdifferent amusement-ride-specific computer programs, which can betransmitted via the data processing device of the amusement ride to thecommunication interface of the mobile terminal of the passenger orprovided via an App store server on the Internet for transmission.

The second-mentioned means of attaining the object of the invention ischaracterized according to the invention in that theamusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on an apparatuswhich is firmly connected to the vehicle, wherein the apparatus isdesigned with connection means for the connection of the head-mounteddisplay of the passenger.

In this second-mentioned means of attaining the object of the invention,the apparatus, for example a data processing system for executing theamusement-ride-specific computer program, is firmly integrated in thevehicle and has at its disposition standardized commercial connectionoptions to which the passengers can connect their individualhead-mounted display via a data connection. In this manner, the operatorof the amusement ride receives direct control over the software that canbe used, without losing the advantages of using hardware brought alongby the passengers, with regard to maintenance and hygiene. In addition,the passengers do not need to have their own mobile terminal, insteadthey only need a commercial head-mounted display, which, for example,can also be purchased directly at the amusement ride. Thus, theapparatus is integrated in the vehicle and permanently connected withthe position acquisition device.

Alternatively to the position acquisition device arranged in thevehicle, it is also possible, in a development, that the position andthe dynamic status of the vehicle on the route are acquired by aposition and status acquisition device of the mobile terminal of thepassenger. This feature is available, since mobile terminals equippedwith a navigation function and with inertial sensors, such as, forexample, smartphones or tablet computers, are already on the market, sothat a position determination of the vehicle relative to the route ofthe amusement ride is possible, for example, based on a gyroscope andinclinometer incorporated in such a mobile terminal. Such a position andstatus acquisition device of the mobile terminal comprises sensors,namely rotation sensors, inclinometers or acceleration sensors,gyroscopes or magnetometers as well as a position determination system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, for the generationof the virtual reality of the journey, in accordance with the positionand/or the orientation of the head-mounted display, said display isimplemented with movement and rotation sensors such as inclinometers oracceleration sensors, gyroscopes and magnetometers. By means of thegenerated sensor data, using the amusement-ride-specific computerprogram, the position and the viewing direction of the passenger in thevirtual space are calculated and graphically represented accordingly inthe head-mounted display.

A communication interface of the mobile terminal of the passenger isdesigned, in a development, to be WLAN-enabled or Bluetooth-enabled.

Moreover, it is provided, in a development, that the data connection ofthe communication interface of the mobile terminal of the passenger tothe communication interface of the vehicle is implemented by cableconnection.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention,the vehicle is designed with input devices for operation by thepassenger, wherein the actuation of the input device is transmitted viathe communication interface to the mobile terminal. Thus, not only aredata transmitted to the mobile terminal of the passenger, but theoperating data of the input device are also transmitted by said terminalto the amusement-ride-specific computer program. In this way, forexample, the actuation of buttons, levers or joysticks of the inputdevice, which are attached, for example, to handholds of the passengerseat, is transmitted to the amusement-ride-specific computer program.Subsequently, in the virtual reality, in accordance with the operatingdata, a certain action is triggered, i.e., the passenger can influencethe run of the computer program.

Preferably, in this design of the vehicle with an input device, thevehicle can be designed with force-feedback devices for the vibrationand for the mechanical movement, the activation of which devices istriggered and controlled by the amusement-ride-specific computer programon the mobile terminal by means of the communication interface thereof.By means of a controlled movement of the handholds, for example, theperceivable recoil movement of a virtual on-board gun could begenerated, or the passenger seat could be made to vibrate in the case ofa virtual explosion.

An additional advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that, inaddition to the position of the vehicle on the route, additional dataconcerning the status of a train consisting of several coupled vehiclesor of other vehicles of the amusement ride, are transmitted, inparticular via the actuation of input devices of the other vehicles, tothe mobile terminal via the communication interface thereof.

According to an additional embodiment of the invention, the datatransmitted by the vehicle communication interface are transmitted tomobile terminals of other passengers in other vehicles of the amusementride. Thus, multiple mobile terminals in multiple vehicles cancommunicate with a single communication interface of the vehicle.

Finally, in a development, it is also possible that the position and thedynamic status of the vehicle on the route of the amusement ride aretransmitted not by a position acquisition device of the vehicle, butrather by a communication interface of the data processing system of theamusement ride to the mobile terminals of the passenger.

Below, the invention is described in detail based on embodiment examplesin reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 shows a Hock diagram of an amusement ride, namely of a rollercoaster, as an explanation of the method according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of a vehicle with a passengerof an amusement ride according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows, in a highly diagrammatic representation, as amusementride, a roller coaster system 1 on which the individual vehicles ormultiple vehicles 2 connected to form trains travel on a rail system asroute. FIG. 2 shows the construction of such a vehicle 2 with apassenger 30, which is guided on a route with two rails, in adiagrammatic representation.

The passenger 30 in the vehicle 2 has a personal mobile terminal 10 inthe form of a mobile telephone, for example, a smartphone, or in theform of a tablet computer or laptop with a Bluetooth-enabled orWLAN-enabled communication interface 10.1 by means of which anamusement-ride-specific computer program is transmitted by a dataprocessing device 1.1 of the roller coaster 1 and loaded on a dataprocessing system 10.2 of the mobile terminal 10 for execution. Thecomputer program can also be transmitted by an App store server on theInternet.

This amusement-ride-specific computer program is used to generate avirtual reality of a journey with the roller coaster 1, which isrepresented by means of a head-mounted display 20 of the passenger 30.With such a virtual reality, the illusion is generated for the passenger30 of realistically experiencing a roller coaster ride in an environmentthat is specifically adapted to the roller coaster 1. Here, thisenvironment generated as virtual reality can correspond to the actualenvironment of the roller coaster 1, which can also be enhanced withaugmented reality effects, or which can be designed completely as anartificial environment.

The head-mounted display 20, like the mobile terminal 10, representspersonal hardware of the passenger 30.

The generation of the virtual reality by means of theamusement-ride-specific computer program and the representation thereofin the head-mounted display 20 are synchronized with the start of thevehicle 2 of the roller coaster 1. In order to determine the positionand the viewing direction of the passenger in the virtual space, thehead-mounted display 20 is designed with movement and rotation sensors20.1, the sensor signals of which are transmitted via a data connectionDV1 of the data processing device 10.2 of the mobile terminal 10, whichgenerates therefrom the passenger-specific virtual reality of the rollercoaster journey and transmits it back to the head-mounted display 20 forrepresentation.

Depending on the model of the head-mounted display 20, the mobileterminal 10 can also sit in the head-mounted display 20 and representthe generated passenger-specific virtual reality there directly, withoutthe representation having to be transmitted first to the head-mounteddisplay 20.

It is also possible to use movement and rotation sensors integrated inthe mobile terminal 10, in order to generate a representation of thepassenger-specific virtual reality which is specific to the passenger.

In the same way, the mobile terminal 10 can be firmly integrated in thehead-mounted display 20.

For the synchronization of the virtual reality with the movement of thevehicle 2 on the rail system of the roller coaster 1, the positionthereof, that is to say the location thereof on the rail system, needsto be known. For this purpose, the vehicle 2 comprises a positionacquisition device 2.1 which determines the current position of thevehicle 2 on the rail system of the roller coaster 1 on an optical,inductive or mechanical basis. The sensor data of this positionacquisition device 2.1 are transmitted via a communication interface 2.2of the vehicle 2 to the communication interface 10.1 of the mobileterminal 10. By means of these position data, the vehicle-specific andpassenger-specific virtual reality is generated by theamusement-ride-specific computer program on the basis of the knowledgeof the course of the rail system of the roller coaster 1.

The data connection DV2 between the communication interface 2.2 and 10.1can be implemented by a wireless link or by means of a cable plugconnection for the transmission of the position data of the vehicle 2. Adata connection DV2 by wireless link can be implemented by means of aBluetooth connection or a WEAN connection.

The respective position data of the vehicle 2 on the rail system of theroller coaster 1 during the roller coaster journey can also be madeavailable directly by the mobile terminal 10 of the passenger 30, whensaid terminal is equipped with a position and status acquisition device10.3. Such a position and status acquisition device 10.3 for thedetermination of the position and of the dynamic status of the vehicle 2comprises, as sensors, an inclinometer or acceleration sensor, agyroscope, or a magnetometer and a global position determination system.Based on the corresponding sensor signals and the knowledge of thecomputer program regarding the nature of the route of the roller coaster1, the position of the vehicle 2 on the rail system is determined.

According to FIG. 2, the vehicle 2 can also comprise an input device 2.3with buttons, levers or joysticks, which can be arranged, for example,on handholds of the passenger seat, and operated by the passenger 30.The operating data of this input device 2.3 are supplied by means of thedata connection DV2 via the interface 10.1 to the data processing system10.2 of the mobile terminal 10 of the passenger 30 to theamusement-ride-specific computer program, and as a result a certainaction is triggered in the virtual reality. In this way, the passenger30 can influence the course of the amusement-ride-specific computerprogram or interact with the amusement-ride-specific computer program.

Certain actions triggered by the passenger 30 on the basis of theoperation by said passenger of the input device 2.3 dramaturgicalelements provided in the amusement-ride-specific computer program canlead to an activation of a force-feedback device 2.4 of the vehicle 2.For this purpose, the data processing system 10.2 of the mobile terminal10 transmits corresponding control signals via the data connection DV2,for the control of the force-feedback device 2.4, to the communicationinterface 2.2. Thus, by a controlled movement of the handholds by thepassenger 30, for example the perceptible recoil movement of a virtualon-board gun can be generated or the passenger seat can be made tovibrate in the case of a virtual explosion. An additional predeterminedaction could also consist in that the rotation of a rotatable vehicle 2is influenced by the amusement-ride-specific computer program.

The possibility of controlling such force-feedback devices 2.4 onhandholds or on the passenger seat by means of theamusement-ride-specific computer program opens up an entirely softwaretechnology-based, and consequently exceedingly simple to use andflexible, enhancement for dramaturgy and immersion.

The transmission of the actuation of buttons or joysticks to theamusement-ride-specific computer program also opens up tremendouspossibilities for interactive enhancement of the experience of a ride,which are nevertheless based entirely on software technology and thusvery easy to implement, in particular in connection with theforce-feedback device 2.4.

The amusement-ride-specific computer program of the roller coaster 1 istransmitted via a communication interface 1.2 of a data processingdevice 1.1 of the roller coaster 1 via a data connection DV3 to themobile terminal 10 via the communication interface 10.1 thereof. Thiscan be implemented via a Bluetooth connection or via a WLAN connection.Furthermore, it is also possible to enable such a transmission of theamusement-ride-specific computer program via an App store server on theInternet instead of a local server as data processing device 1.1.

The amusement-ride-specific computer program of the roller coaster 1 canbe made available in different versions to the passenger 30 anddownloaded by said passenger via the data connection DV3 to the mobileterminal 10 of said passenger. The data connection DV3 can also beimplemented as Internet connection to a server of the operator of theroller coaster 1, so that, via said data connection, different versionsand the updates of the amusement-ride-specific computer program can bedownloaded to the mobile terminal 10 of the user 30. This can also beimplemented via an App store server on the internet.

If a passenger 30 is in possession of a smartphone or tablet PC asmobile terminal 10 as well as of a head-mounted display 20, thepassenger can experience a correspondingly equipped roller coaster 1 notonly in the form that can actually be observed but in any number ofdifferent, virtually enhanced variants. For this purpose, it is onlynecessary for the amusement-ride-specific computer program, that is thesoftware, to be installed or updated by means of a data connection DV3or of an Internet connection on the smartphone 10 or tablet PC 10.

The catalog of downloadable virtual new interpretations of a rollercoaster 1, implemented in a respective new computer program, can here beconstantly enlarged; and, with each “update,” it always ensures newinterest on the part of the passengers in experiencing the correspondingroller coaster 1 in a new way with a new dramatization.

Since a commercial “smartphone” or a portable tablet PC as mobileterminal 10 is already entirely sufficient order to execute thecorresponding software, that is to say the amusement-ride-specificcomputer program, during the journey, it is also no longer necessary tomount a separate data processing system for each passenger seat of thevehicle 2 of the roller coaster 1 or to accommodate it in a computationcenter. This results in a considerable savings in procurement costs aswell as in maintenance and repair expenditures.

In the case of such a roller coaster 1, it is also no longer necessaryto attach a separate head-mounted display 20 to each passenger seat of avehicle 2 and to maintain and repair it, since these apparatuses arealso available as commercial accessories for smartphones, tablet PCs orlaptops and can be taken along by the passengers.

The data-processing mobile terminals 10 (smartphones, tablet PCs) canhere be kept in the pockets of the clothes of the passengers during thejourney and are therefore protected against continuous vibrations, incontrast to hardware that is firmly mounted in the cars.

In addition, during the tracking of the head movement of the passenger30, this does not result in latency as occurs, for example, withcomputers set up apart from the track for protection against vibrations,since here the head-mounted display 20 can remain connected directly tothe personal smartphone or tablet PC as mobile terminal 10 of thepassenger 30. Only the position of the vehicle 2 in thethree-dimensional space needs to be transmitted by the roller coaster 1to the individual hardware of the passenger 30, which, however, even iflatencies occur, has no influence on the continuously precisely trackedviewing direction of the head-mounted display 20 and thus on theimmersion of the passenger.

Moreover, no passenger 30 is forced to wear a head-mounted display 20that has already been worn on the same day by thousands of passengers,since each passenger 30 who experiences the virtually enhanced journeyuses his/her own personal apparatus.

Due to the use of the personal mobile hardware of the passengers, thereis also no need to provide new equipment for the entire system, in thecase of technical progress with regard to the achievable quality of thevirtual environment and the representation in the head-mounted displays.

Instead, an amusement-ride-specific computer program adaptedindividually to each commercial mobile operating system and to eachmobile hardware, and a communication interface with the roller coaster 1allow an individually adapted experience which, in each case, can makeoptimal use of the available resources of the hardware of the passenger30.

An additional advantage consists in that existing roller coasters canalso be retrofitted at very low cost for carrying out the methodaccording to the invention, since only a system for the detection of thetrain position on the track, and a device for the connection to thesmartphone or tablet PCs as mobile terminals 10 of the passengers needto be installed, for example, by means of a Bluetooth connection or of aWLAN connection.

In the embodiment example according to FIGS. 1 and 2, theamusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on a mobileterminal 10 of the passenger 30.

Alternatively, in an additional embodiment example, it is possible tohave the amusement-ride-specific computer program be run on an apparatusfirmly installed on the vehicle 2, for example a data processing system,so that the passenger 30 only needs to bring along his/her ownhead-mounted display. This apparatus for running the specific computerprogram is firmly connected to the position acquisition device 2.1 ofthe vehicle 2 and it comprises commercial connection options to whichthe passenger 30 can connect his/her individual head-mounted display 20via a data connection DV1. In this way, the operator of the amusementride 1 gets direct control over the software that can be used, withoutlosing the advantages of the use of hardware brought along by thepassengers, with regard to maintenance and hygiene. In addition, thepassenger 30 does not need to have his/her own mobile terminal, but onlya commercial head-mounted display 20, which can also be purchaseddirectly, for example, at the amusement ride.

An additional variant of the invention provides for use in transportmeans such as, for example, cars, trains or airplanes.

It is known to enhance vehicles, particularly passenger cars, but alsotrains/rail vehicles or airplanes, with a data processing system for therepresentation of virtual realities or for the playback of spherical VRvideos as well as with a VR headset, so that persons riding along canfind themselves in a different environment, possibly a more entertainingenvironment than the road actually traveled.

For this purpose, the respective vehicle needs to be equipped with adata processing system for representing the virtual realities, whichentails a considerable financial expense with regard to procurement aswell as maintenance and repair of the system.

In addition, the VR software installed in this data processing system,and the apparatus drivers thereof is always limited the selection of theusable VR headsets to the VR headsets known at the time of theinstallation. If new headsets are to be supported, a software updateneeds to be carried out.

The respective graphics performance of the hardware of the dataprocessing system in question also limits the selection of the usableheadsets. If a new headset with higher image resolution, for example,comes on the market, then, in order to provide support for thisapparatus, under some circumstances, the entire system needs to bereplaced with hardware with better graphics performance.

In addition, the data processing system connected to the vehicle limitsthe available VR contents to the respective software installed. It isnot possible for the user to run individual VR applications or VRapplications brought along (which can be available on the Internet, forexample), to the extent that they have not been made availablebeforehand on the firmly installed data processing system.

In addition, there is the problem that, in the case of firmly installedVR headsets or VR headsets taken long in the glove box, differentpassengers always have to wear a headset that has already been wornbeforehand, possibly by unknown individuals, with direct skin contact.This entails a considerable expense with regard to cleaning anddisinfection.

If, instead, one equips the speed or status measurement unit which, as arule, is already integrated in a motor vehicle, with a data processingsystem and an interface (for example, a Bluetooth transmitter) for theconnection to mobile VR apparatuses, then, via this connection,continuous statuses of the vehicle (for example, GPS position,orientation of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle) can be transmitted toan application (“VR App”), which is run on a personal mobile VRapparatus of the person riding along.

These data can be used in the VR App for the corresponding synchronizedjourney through a virtual landscape as well as for the synchronousrepresentation of the orientation of the virtual vehicle in thesimulated reality.

Since, as a result, only status data need are transmitted, dataprocessing systems for the representation of virtual realities no longerneed to be integrated in the corresponding vehicles. As a result, theprocurement costs for a data processing system with high graphicsperformance as well as for the maintenance and repair thereof areeliminated.

In addition, by means of this system, the correspondingly equippedvehicle is no longer limited to a few headset models; instead, thesystem can be used with any mobile VR apparatus. The contents and therepresentation quality thus are not dependent on hardware mounted on thevehicle or on any driver updates that may be required.

The respective VR Apps can be obtained, for example, via Internet. TheseApps are optimized in each case individually to the respective VRapparatus and they can be freely enhanced with different VR applicationsby downloading. Moreover, the user also can select his/her individual VRApp freely and is not limited to the Apps that were installed beforehandon any firmly mounted data processing system.

In this way, each user can take along his/her own personal VR apparatusand use it in any correspondingly equipped vehicle. As a result, it ispossible to use one's own private headset and one is not forced to use aheadset that has already come in contact with many other usersbeforehand and that may possibly not have been cleaned or disinfectedcompletely.

An additional variant of the invention provides for use with fitnessapparatuses.

It is known to enhance fitness apparatuses (such as, for example,treadmills, ergometers or steppers) with a data processing system (forthe representation of virtual realities or for the playback of sphericalVR videos) and with a VR headset, so that the training individual findshimself/herself in another, possibly motivating environment.

For this purpose, the respective fitness apparatus must be equipped witha data processing system for the representation of the virtualrealities, which entails a significant financial expenditure with regardto procurement as well as maintenance and repair of the system.

In addition, the VR software installed on this data processing systemand the apparatus drivers thereof is always limited the selection of theusable VR headsets to the VR headsets known at the time of theinstallation. If new headsets are to be supported, a software update hasto be carried out.

The respective graphics performance of the hardware of the dataprocessing system in question also limits the selection of the headsetsthat can be used. If a new headset with higher image resolution, forexample, comes on the market, the entire system has to be replaced undersome circumstances with hardware with better graphics performance.

In addition, the data processing system connected to the fitnessapparatus limits the available VR contents to the respective softwareinstalled. It is not possible for the user to run individual VRapplications or VR applications brought along (which can be available onthe Internet, for example), if they are not made available by theoperator on the firmly installed data processing system.

In addition, there is the problem that the VR headset absorbs muchperspiration due to the physical activity of the user. As a result, itis exceedingly difficult to operate the respective headset hygienically,particularly if it is used by hundreds of visitors in fitness studios.Even in the case of a permanent exchange of the headset, the headsetmust always be expensively cleaned and disinfected, which not onlyentails a high cost for larger fitness studios but which, moreover, canalso negatively affect the useful life of the housing material.

If, instead, one equips the speed or status measurement unit, which as arule is already integrated in such a fitness apparatus with a dataprocessing system and an interface (for example, a Bluetoothtransmitter) for the connection to mobile VR apparatuses, thencontinuous statuses of the fitness apparatuses (for example, the speedof a treadmill, the speed of rotation of an ergometer wheel, theposition of the steps of a stepper, or the position of paddles and seatelement of rowing equipment) can be transmitted via this connection toan application (“VR App”), which is run on a personal mobile VRapparatus of the training individual.

These data can be used in the VR App for the corresponding synchronizedmovement through a landscape as well as for the synchronousrepresentation of a virtual body of the training individual.

Since only status data are transmitted here, as a rule data processingsystems no longer need to be integrated in the corresponding fitnessapparatus for the representation of virtual realities. As a result,procurement costs for a data processing system with high graphicsperformance well as for the maintenance and repair thereof areeliminated.

By means of this system, the correspondingly equipped fitness apparatusis no longer limited to a few headset models, but can be used insteadwith any mobile VR apparatus. The contents and the representationquality are thus no longer dependent on hardware mounted on the fitnessapparatus or any driver updates that may be needed. The respective VRApps can be obtained, for example, via the Internet. As a result, theyare in each case optimized individually to the respective VR apparatusand can be freely enhanced with other VR applications by downloading. Inaddition, the user can freely select his/her individual VR App and isnot limited to the Apps that were installed beforehand on any firmlymounted data processing system by the fitness studio operator.

In this way, each user can bring along his/her own personal VR apparatusand use it in any correspondingly equipped fitness apparatus. As aresult, the training individual can use his/her own private headset andis not forced to use a headset that has already come in contact with theperspiration of many other users or that may possibly not have beencompletely cleaned and disinfected.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the respective fitnessapparatus can also be controlled by means of the existing communicationsite by operation of the mobile VR apparatus. Mobile VR headsets, due tothe hardware contained therein, have input devices that can be actuatedby the user, in order to control certain functions such as, for example,the predetermined speed of a treadmill. The respective VR App can alsocontrol the fitness apparatus in an automated way, for example, byadaptation of the ergometer resistance depending on the slope orgradient in the virtual route arrangement.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Amusement ride, roller coaster    -   1.1 Data processing device of the amusement ride    -   1.2 Communication interface of the data processing device 1.1    -   2 Vehicle of the amusement ride 1    -   2.1 Position acquisition device of the vehicle 2    -   2.2 Communication interface of the vehicle 2    -   2.3 Input device of the vehicle 2 for operation by the passenger        30    -   2.4 Force feedback devices of the vehicle 2    -   10 Mobile terminal of a passenger of the amusement ride 1    -   10.1 Communication interface of the mobile terminal 10    -   10.2 Data processing system of the mobile terminal 10    -   10.3 Position and status acquisition device of the mobile        terminal 10    -   20 Head-mounted display of a passenger of the vehicle company 1    -   20.1 Movement and rotation sensors of the head-mounted display        20    -   30 Passenger    -   DV1 Data connection between mobile terminal 10 and head-mounted        display 20    -   DV2 Data connection between the communication interface 10.1 and        the communication interface 2.2    -   DV3 Data connection between the communication interface 1.3 and        the communication interface 10.1

1. A method for operating an amusement ride (1), in particular a rollercoaster, with at least one vehicle (2) which moves along a route andaccommodates at least one passenger (30), wherein, by means of anamusement-ride-specific computer program, a virtual realitycorresponding to a journey of the vehicle (2) is generated by means ofan amusement-ride-specific computer program and represented on ahead-mounted display (20) associated with the passenger (30) of avehicle (2) in accordance with the position of the vehicle (2) on theroute as well as in accordance with the position and/or the orientationof the head-mounted display (20), characterized in that theamusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on a mobileterminal (10) of the passenger (30) which comprises a communicationinterface (10.1).
 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized inthat the position of the vehicle (2) on the route is acquired by aposition acquisition device (2.1) with a vehicle communication interface(2.2) of the vehicle (2) and is transmitted to the mobile terminal (10)via the communication interface (10.1) thereof.
 3. The method accordingto claim 1, characterized in that, by means of theamusement-ride-specific computer program, said computer program istransmitted to the communication interface (10.1) of the mobile terminal(10) of the passenger (30) via a data processing device (1.1) of theamusement ride (1), for the generation of a virtual realitycorresponding to the journey with the vehicle (2).
 4. The method foroperating an amusement ride (1), in particular a roller coaster, with atleast one vehicle (2) which moves along a route and accommodates atleast one passenger (30), wherein, by means of anamusement-ride-specific computer program, a virtual realitycorresponding to a journey with the vehicle (2) is generated by means ofan amusement-ride-specific computer program and represented on ahead-mounted display (20) associated with the passenger (30) of avehicle (2) in accordance with the position of the vehicle (2) on theroute as well as in accordance with the position and/or the orientationof the head-mounted display (20), characterized in that theamusement-ride-specific computer program is executed on an apparatusfirmly connected to the vehicle (2), wherein the apparatus is designedwith connection means for connecting the head-mounted display (20) ofthe passenger (30).
 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized inthat the position of the vehicle (2) on the route is acquired by aposition acquisition device (2.1) with a vehicle communication interface(2.2) of the vehicle (2) and is transmitted to the mobile terminal (10)via the communication interface (10.1) thereof, and the positionacquisition device (2.1) is connected to the apparatus.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the position and the dynamicstatus of the vehicle (2) on the route are acquired by a position andstatus acquisition device (10.3) of the mobile terminal (10) of thepassenger.
 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that,for the generation of the virtual reality of the journey in accordancewith the position and/or orientation of the head-mounted display (20),said display is designed with movement and rotation sensors (20.1). 8.The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, as mobileterminal (10) of the passenger, a mobile radio unit, a mobile telephone,in particular a smartphone or a tablet computer or a laptop computer isused, wherein the mobile terminal (10) is designed for executing theamusement-ride-specific computer program.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the communication interface (10.1) of themobile terminal (10) of the passenger is designed to be WLAN-enabled orBluetooth-enabled.
 10. The method according to claim 2, characterized inthat the data connection (DV2) of the communication interface (10.1) ofthe mobile terminal (10) of the passenger is implemented to be connectedby cable to the communication interface (2.2) of the vehicle (2). 11.The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (2)is designed with input devices (2.3) for operation by the passenger(30), wherein the actuation of the input device (2.3) is transmitted viathe communication interface (10.1) to the mobile terminal (10).
 12. Themethod according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (2) isdesigned with force feedback devices (2.4) for the vibration or for themechanical movement, the activation of which is triggered and controlledby the amusement-ride-specific computer program on the mobile terminal(10) by means of the communication interface (10.1) thereof.
 13. Themethod according to claim 1, characterized in that, in addition to theposition of the vehicle (2) on the route, additional data on the statusof a train consisting of several coupled vehicles, or of other vehiclesof the amusement ride (1), in particular on the actuation of inputdevices (2.3) of the other vehicles, is transmitted to the mobileterminal (10) via the communication interface (10.1) thereof.
 14. Themethod according to claim 2, characterized in that the data transmittedby the vehicle communication interface (2.2) are transmitted to mobileterminals of additional passengers in other vehicles of the amusementride (1).
 15. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that theposition and dynamic status of the vehicle (2) on the route of theamusement ride (1) is transmitted by a communication interface (1.2) ofthe data processing system (1.1) of the amusement ride (1) to the mobileterminals (10) of the motor vehicle.
 16. An amusement ride, inparticular roller coaster, for carrying out the method according toclaim
 1. 17. A device that creates a virtual reality (VR) for a user,with the following features: a mobile VR apparatus for a user with adata interface the VR apparatus is coupled via the interface to a devicewhich itself moves or is set at least partially in motion by the user,means for transmitting a parameter for the movement of the device to theinterface of the mobile VR apparatus, means in the mobile VR apparatusfor linking the parameter to the virtual reality that is provided to theuser by the mobile VR apparatus.
 18. The method for operating the deviceaccording to claim 17.